The Holy War – John Bunyan

When Diabolus saw the white flag hanging out again, and knowing that
it was not for him, but Mansoul, he cast in his mind to play another prank, to
wit, to see if Emmanuel would raise his siege and begone, upon promise of a
reformation.[11] So he comes down to the gate one evening, a good while
after the sun was gone down, and calls to speak with Emmanuel, who
presently came down to the gate, and Diabolus saith unto him:
'Forasmuch as thou makest it appear by thy white flag, that thou art
wholly given to peace and quiet; I thought meet to acquaint thee that we are
ready to accept thereof upon terms which thou mayest admit.
'I know that thou art given to devotion, and that holiness pleaseth thee;
yea, that thy great end in making a war upon Mansoul is that it may be an
holy habitation. Well, draw off thy forces from the town, and I will bend
Mansoul to thy bow.
'[Thus] I will lay down all acts of hostility against thee, and will be
willing to become thy deputy, and will, as I have formerly been against thee,
now serve thee in the town of Mansoul. And more particularly--1. I will
persuade Mansoul to receive thee for their Lord, and I know that they will do
it the sooner when they shall understand that I am thy deputy. 2. I will show
them wherein they have erred, and that transgression stands in the way to
life. 3. I will show them the holy law unto which they must conform, even
that which they have broken. 4. I will press upon them the necessity of a
reformation according to thy law. 5. And, moreover, that none of these things
may fail, I myself, at my own proper cost and charge, will set up and
maintain a sufficient ministry, besides lectures, in Mansoul.[12] 6. Thou
shalt receive, as a token of our subjection to thee continually, year by year,
what thou shalt think fit to lay and levy upon us, in token of our subjection to
thee.'[13]
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